Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chula Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Households earn $9,692 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 4.2%)
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Renton, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.2%)
10% less violent crime than Chula Vista
Homes cost $70k less ($576,800 vs $647,100)
Rent averages $171/mo less ($1,864 vs $2,035)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Chula Vista by $9,692/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Chula Vista
Median Income
$9,692
$101,984 vs $92,292/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
10% lower
339.2 vs 375.8 per 100k
Renton
Median Home Value
$70k less
$576,800 vs $647,100
Renton
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $92,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 77.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Chula Vista is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chula Vista wins 11 and Renton wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chula Vista to Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $576,800 median home), income ($101,984 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Renton, WA are about 1,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.